Stop accumulating things that don't improve our lives!
With madness, we realize that the acquisition of objects interferes with our happiness more often than it supports it. It is that we must manage all these things: maintain them, find a place for them so as not to live in chaos and stress that too often remind us of our lack of time...
Wouldn't this be our greatest asset to cherish, to seize and to use to fill our lives with meaning? Mind you, I like beautiful clothes, shoes, cosmetics... I'm a woman like any other (I even told you about my walk-in closet in the Storage column)!
The goal here is rather to make us aware of the real cost of things, that is to say the working time required to be able to consume the good, but also the addition of this time to what we could have done else: an hour worked for the purchase of such an object is also equivalent to an hour lost for an activity that we are passionate about or an hour dedicated to a moment invested with those we love, for example.
Sure, it's very simple, but we forget it! We forget ourselves. Are our activities and those of our family, all of our collected belongings, the scheduling headaches, and so on really worth the cost?
We only live once, what should we spend it on? I also know that the joy associated with most of my purchases is very fleeting. So many coveted objects offer short-term pleasure versus the enormous investment in hours of work: how long do we get excited about our new car, dress, etc.?
A study from the University of California reveals that our things are literally taking over our lives!
Possessions = Accumulation = waste of time and energy. I often idealize Zen, the purified space… I envy freedom: to be liberated, available (to life and its possibilities) in a simple, light, joyful way of life.
I want to experience this state as often as possible while being a modern woman, who also likes to be well dressed… But I remember that choosing matters to my happiness, that consumption can make me dizzy. It's funny, when I decide not to buy, I feel liberated: my space will remain uncluttered. I turn to my essentials that make me feel good, I revisit them, I take care of them.
Take the time to sit down and ask yourself: what makes us happier, healthier, what simplifies and enhances our lives? With or without? Several books and apps talk about simplicity. They don't tire me, on the contrary. They remind me. The inhabitants of 400-square-foot houses on lots not much larger make me smile peacefully. It's impressive how far we can go.
Obviously, I'm not! And I'm not suggesting it either! But I recently read that 70% of workers in America don't take all their vacation time. A friend told me that at her work, they only give 30 minutes for lunch, and most don't even take it all!
We no longer take the time to eat, to live. I think it's time to ask ourselves some questions! The idea is to evaluate in hours of work how much our whims, toys, activities cost in order to be aware. This subscription, this dinner is worth so many hours at work. Is it worth it? What do I prefer? Are the benefits valid for me?
And yet, some have no flexibility, but others can reduce their number of hours at work and gradually decide to cut back on unnecessary expenses to accumulate time dedicated to coveted hobbies, travel and even change profession to achieve their dreams.
Mothers have realized that once the unnecessary is cut, for them and their family, working is not a necessity and that staying at home fulfills them more. Or that they can have their own business, or flourish in other ways than the profession that they can return to a few years later.
We can accomplish everything, just not all at once! And our ideas are meant to be realized, it is our life that demands to be fulfilled... In the same vein, my personal project is to look at all of my expenses for the next month and get an overview of where my money is going, to shed light on my portrait and see if it is consistent with who I am, who I want to be: do the hours and amounts spent reflect my desires (to have time with my loved ones, to nourish my health well, to have time to stroll too).
And little by little, because choices will clarify our ideal life. Choosing defines us and makes us powerful. Certainly, we can all cut expenses, identify what is necessary for our fulfillment. Too often, they bring nothing and do not elevate the quality of our life. We can also gain our happiness by getting rid of everything that harms it and by loving what we have. Time has real value, especially time spent with those we love! It's so good when it's simple! Why not change what bothers us now? Tell me, what would you do if you had the money and put your fears aside?
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